The tomb is thought to date to around 2500 BC, and is located on the lower slopes of the
Hill of Howth, overlooked by cliffs named Muck Rock, and faces south-east. It is likely the large cap-stone was brought from the
quartzite cliff nearby.
Description The tomb consists of two portal stones, an entrance stone and a collapsed colossal roof stone, which weighs an estimated 75 tonnes. The capstone is the second largest in Ireland after the one at
Brownshill dolmen in
County Carlow. The tomb has a single chamber.
Aideen Aideen is said to be the daughter of
Aengus, the ruler of
Howth () in the 3rd century. She was also the wife of
Oscar, the son of
Oisín and it is said that Aideen died of grief after the death of Oscar at the
Cath Gabhra. Alternatively, the name Aideen is said to refer to
Étaín, a figure in Irish mythology.
Preservation and protection In 2024, calls were made by politicians
Cian O'Callaghan,
TD and Councillor Joan Hopkins (
Fingal County Council) to make the tomb and surrounding area a
national monument. ==Poem==